Opening name: Pirc Defence
Opening line: 1. e4 d6
Lichess Board
Wikibooks Page
Winning percentages
White: 15826 (38.13%)
Black: 10731 (25.86%)
Draws: 14943 (36.01%)
Pirc Defence
1...d6
In this opening, Black does not immediately fight for the center, but prefers to prepare counter-play while White advances their pawns.
If White dislikes this opening, they can play 2. Nf3 in order to transpose into the Sicilian Defence (2...c5) or into the Philidor Defence (2...e5).
If White agrees to play this defence, they have no reason not to build their pawn center with 2. d4.
Most popular responses
2. d4 (Pirc Defence) Black should start to put pressure on Whites pawns, either with a direct threat : 2...Nf6 or by fianchettoing his kings bishop : 2...g6. Lichess Analysis - Wikibooks (60526999 games)
2. Nf3 (Pirc Defence) Black must now choose between going on in a modern defence with 2...g6 or transposing into another defence with 2...c5 or 2...e5. Lichess Analysis - Wikibooks (36359659 games)
Engine Evaluation
Depth: 45
Score: +0.45
Best Move: d4
PV Line: 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Nf3 Nbd7 5. Bc4 Be7 6. a4 c6
Historical games for Pirc Defence
| Game | Result | Year |
| Karjakin, Sergey (2767) vs Carlsen, Magnus (2868) | 1-0 | 2013 |
| Anand, V. (2774) vs Carlsen, M. (2861) | 1/2-1/2 | 2019 |
| Yu Yangyi (2752) vs Carlsen, M. (2882) | 1/2-1/2 | 2019 |
| Caruana, F. (2822) vs Mamedyarov, S. (2808) | 0-1 | 2018 |
| Giri, A. (2764) vs Carlsen, M. (2861) | 1/2-1/2 | 2022 |
| Caruana, F. (2816) vs Mamedyarov, S. (2808) | 0-1 | 2018 |
| Anand, V. (2793) vs Caruana, F. (2829) | 0-1 | 2014 |
| Vachier Lagrave, M. (2779) vs Carlsen, M. (2842) | 0-1 | 2018 |
| Caruana, F. (2819) vs Nepomniachtchi, I. (2775) | 0-1 | 2019 |
| Caruana, F. (2819) vs Nepomniachtchi, I. (2775) | 0-1 | 2019 |